No really I can’t. How do you describe it when every single feeling known to man flows through your body in a matter of minutes. Desperation, fear, anger, pain, relief, sadness, happiness, elation and maybe even a little confusion. Let me start at the beginning.
It probably started the moment Bryan Habanna flew over a white line under the grasping arms of a desperate JP Pieterson and broke every single heart of Sharks fans at Kings Park. Yes sure, that was more than a year ago, but that moment just kept repeating itself in my head, probably for the past year and a half, but mostly on the morning of the final. I tried to play it down, like most of us did the 2 weeks before the final, but in my heart I knew I could just not take another devastation like that.
The dark clouds looming over the Durban sky threatened to ruin finals day, but when I came to the stadium I was pleasantly surprised, not because people were showing up, I knew nothing would keep anyone away from a final, but rather what pleased me was the very few blue jersey’s I saw, this time we out numbered them by a large number. Almost every Sharks supporter was wearing some form of black, even if it weren’t Sharks wear it built my excitement for the game in a big way.
I sat down in my seat, at exactly the same place I did last year, the under 21 final had 30mins left, Free State against the Blue Bulls, for a second the sight of that blue jersey gave me a flash back, but I wiped it out of my mind and enjoyed the game that was being played. Not my team, no stress, right? The 15 to 20 000 strong crowd that was already there was firmly behind the Free State team and soon I also got into the spirit of screaming for the team that opposed the Bulls. With 10mins to go the Free State team took the lead with a try, but their five point lead soon looked a little thin with a massive onslaught from the Junior Bulls. I heard my mom begging next to me, please don’t let it happen, please not like this. With someone like this next to you, it is hard not to get nervous for the game. Unfortunately for her and for all of us, with the clock already in overtime the Little Bulls went over the line with only a conversion needed for victory. Free State ran up to charge the kick down, but alas the ref sent them back, my mom, my sister and I shared a worried look. What was going on, the Bulls took the game, with Bryan Habanna smiling from the side of the field.
It was a great curtain raiser to get some excitement into the fans, once again when the Bulls came onto the field I was pleased with the relatively small amount of Bulls supporters that were present, Sharks fans could not hold back their resentment and the Bulls team were greeted with a loud jeer from the big crowd. The Sharks team was announced and everyone got to their feet, this was our moment, the cheers kept on going until the ball to start the game was finally dropped to the Bulls. After that the excitement died down and the crowd became tentative.
For the first 15mins of the game, like the crowd, the Sharks players also seemed a little careful, tentative. There was little possession in the half of the Bulls and little if any in their 22, in fact it seemed like the Bulls were the team in command, doing most of the attacking and getting the crowd a little uneasy. With almost 15mins on the clock the Sharks were in a position to attack and seemed to be finding their groove, but tentative as ever they spread the ball wide. It seemed like something was on, still the crowd was careful not to get to excited. Then Habanna snatched a Francois Steyn pass, for a moment it felt like the crowd kept there breath, only for a moment as if time stood still, but time went back to motion and the crowd were on their feet and for the first time screaming their lungs out. It was clear how important it was for every person in the stands and just as clear how determined the players on the field were not to let Bryan Habanna or any of those Bulls players cross the line. It was desperation, but we did it and that brought the crowd and the players to life. We got a penalty and from that line-out we got over the advantage line and Ruan got his try. I might be wrong, but from that moment the Sharks dominated the game and the Bulls never looked like crossing the line once…maybe in the last desperate minutes, but I’m still getting to that.
Seven against Six was not a good margin to have for a big part of the second half and when Steyn’tjie went over that line, I almost started to cry, I saw the tears in my mothers eyes and knew what she was thinking, because I felt it to. We are almost there, it is so close. That was a six point margin and I hate that lead, so when Freddie converted that try my emotions ran amok with me, I jumped the gun and almost thought we had it in the bag, but it was short lived as Morne Steyn slotted a penalty only moments later. A five point margin, I could not take it. The Sharks would have to score again, and with our guys dominating, playing in the Bulls half, I really believed we would do it. Every time we got close to the line, I thought to myself, this is it, this is where we take the game away. I had faith in the guys and was confident all the way until JP and Stefan started a move that got Bismark into a gap, when we didn’t get that try, I started to worry. Too many chances were lost and I wondered if we would get any more. My heart started beating loudly and like me, the crowd started to get a little quiet. With three minutes left the Sharks were still looking for those points that would put the game almost out of reach for the Bulls and then we got a penalty. A very important decision had to be made, I immediately thought that the line out might be the better option, maybe just to not repeat the past. Frans Steyn confidently took the ball, and I heard the desperation in my mom’s voice. “Oh no, why aren’t we kicking it out. Not again.” I ignored my first instinct and that of my mother and just begged Steyn’tjie to make this kick. “Please, Please, Please….”
The next 1 to 2 minutes were the worst minutes of my life, yes sure there might be worse things than losing a rugby game, but I couldn’t think of any. The game got so loose and I thought for sure that the Bulls will break my heart again. Once or twice they had massive open spaces on the outside and I could already see them going through those gaps and over the line. Something went wrong, at the time I didn’t know what, we got a scrum, tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn’t take anymore, but I would have to, the Bulls turned the scrum, they had another chance. My voice broke and I could barely scream anymore, but my screams of desperation still somehow came out and stood out like a sore thumb over the silenced crowd. Johan dragged it out with an injury and then we had to reset the scrum, but if I had to tell you what happened after that I’d have to make it up. Maybe I closed my eyes, in fear of what might happen, but the next thing I saw was Jean Deysel running toward me with the ball in his hand, the crowd went up in frantic screams, but I stood there shocked for a moment before I realized what happened.
What was left of my voice and me let out shrill screams, jumping up and down I embraced my mother and my sister and then suddenly without warning I broke down in tears. I still can not explain the feeling or what exactly went through my mind, but tears just freely flowed down my face. It took me a good 10 to 15 minutes to compose myself. And then I waited for the moment that made everything worth it. The Bulls spoke and their wives and girlfriends spoke, our captain and our awesome coach said some emotional words and then finally after so many ears, but especially for me the past year and a half the Cup was handed to Johan Muller. He took the trophy into his arms and held it for a moment, almost as if he couldn’t believe it himself, then he lifted the trophy above his head and finally I felt elation. The crowd erupted, the Sharks are the Currie Cup Champions of 2008.
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Did Wolla run it into touch or did he kick it? Didnt see that. Was already jumping up and down when we won the tighthead and he picked up.
“I still can not explain the feeling or what exactly went through my mind, but tears just freely flowed down my face.”
I can, you just ‘letgo’… 😀
And just when i though we were going to have a problem finding articles today, Letgo offers up this gem. 😎
Nice Piece.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 1) :
Not entirely clear, was looking for that last night when I rewatched the match.
He does kick the ball, and damn hard I might add, but he does also end up WELL in touch.
The important thing is that Steyn learn from the example set by Deysel. 😉
Just brought tears to MY eyes. Thanks Letgo for translating those feelings into words. Sharks forever!
Great piece Letgo.. 😉
Wow!
Awesome piece! 😯
Great Piece, Letgo…you described my exact feelings and emotions, only difference is that i was not in the stands…but other than that, we could have been one person….and now I am sitting here, “knop in die keel” and teary eyed….coz I think the truth has just hit home…FINALLY!!! 😥 😀
@Ice Sharkadelic Babe (Comment 8) :
I got more emotional reading this than I got actually watching the game.
😎 😎 😎 😎 😎
@Ice Sharkadelic Babe (Comment 8) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 9) :
We are the champions – my friends
And we’ll keep on fighting – till the end –
We are the champions –
We are the champions
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) :
Exaclty…thats why I said I think its finally hit home…WE ARE THE CC CHAMPS!!!! 😆 😆 I feel even better now than 2 days ago!! WHOWWW!!! I feeel GOOOD!!!
I had to laugh at old JPP…he is still just a kiddo…that childlike innocent “flight” of joy he did after the game with the ball in his jersey and the flag….man, THAT is jubilation!! (shit, that’s a big word!
)
@just blackshark (Comment 10) :
That song reminds me.
Last night while doing my spin class the instructor used the KWS version of please don’t go.
My Please don’t choke version came to mind and I must have looked a bit silly with this big grin on my face while climbing a hill.
@Ice Sharkadelic Babe (Comment 11) :
That pic of him with the ball in the jersey is SO hilarious. He looks like a ball boy who has managed to bag a matchball. 😛
seeing that letgo mentioned it, how thick are the free state u21 forwards. time is up and they decide to run the ball. that stupidity lost them the game. hang on isn’t frans from the free state 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 12) : PLEASE DON’T CHOKE 😆 … ha ha ha …not that I hear it quite often these days but that song will never be the same again…
Great piece.
@try time (Comment 14) : 😆
Such an awesome article, that hour starting when Deysel ran the ball out just seems to be one big blur. I think this article finally brings the closure I needed
we did it!
That last couple of minutes was the worst case of ‘deja vu’ I have ever experienced. We really deserved the win and the margin should have been bigger, but what a relieve. Well done The Sharks and Sharksworld.
@Frisbee (Comment 17) : Wasn’t it great when Deysel broke through the weak tackle of Matfield and Stegman?
wasn’t it great ryan’s first touch of the ball. pity he disappeared after that. although jk did allow the bulls to illegally negate him.
Magic piece Letgo, magic.
Isn’t it amazing the passion that a sport fan has.
I’ve definitely got to watch this game on tv – need to find someone who has it taped! You can download it off mediazone but it is 1.1Gb big…
@Frisbee (Comment 22) :
Ok, you’ve seen it live, now wanna watch it TV…I have seen it on TV, can I watch it live, now, please?? 🙁
here is a bit of bad news i picked up, cheeky is trying to get into saru by being the head of ep rugby. sad day if he succeeds. we have just cleared out a lot of rot, do we need to start again.
Brilliant piece, felt like i was at the game.
what a great arti – thanks, Letgo. And thanks, SHARKS! 🙂
@Ice Sharkadelic Babe (Comment 11) :
For Ice and if there is ANYONE who might not have seen it.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) :
You reckon there might be a baby shark on the way??
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) :
There is no truth in the rumour that the Bulls managed to get JPP pregnant during the match.
@Ice Sharkadelic Babe (Comment 23) : Ok thats cool, you can have my seats! Behind the poles but quite low down 😆
Sorry Ice… 😳 The Sharks will just have to get another home final in 2009!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : lol JPP!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 29) :
Yep, they turned out to be a herd of oxen. But they did try.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : why does that look so familiar? 🙂
Thanks, everyone. Glad you enjoyed it.
Deysel ran a good 3 – 4 meters before he decided to kick, I think he was into touch by this stage already.
@robdylan (CC Champ ‘08) (Comment 32) : JP would’ve made it onto the logo but his “boep” was taking up all the space
Was about to watch the re-run… no need… thanks… 😉
I have the game, but 10mins are cut out because of a loss in transmission, and unfortunately the part where Freddie catches habana and steyn’tjie tracks him down is also cut out.
Where do i get the full game?
@Letgo (Comment 36) :
Kyk bietjie boontoe of op ander link…iemand het vanoggend link gepost waar mens die game kan aflaai, dis net hel groot!
@Ice Sharkadelic Babe (Comment 37) :
mediazone… 😉
@just blackshark (Comment 34) : egzackerdtly!
@Letgo (Comment 36) :
If you check the SS schedule I am sure there will be replays for days to come.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 40) :
have just checked the SuperS schedule and it is not on again it seems. 🙁
It is on at 20:00 tonight on ShowSport 3 😎 I only have ShowSport 1 and 2 though 🙁
At least CSB will be able to watch it again tonight. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 41) :
And on ShowSport again tomorrow but still on Showsport 3 👿
@Ice Sharkadelic Babe (Comment 28) : I really shouldn’t read and fast scroll at the same time as my first reaction to the baby shark comment was “I swear I was an angel after the game”
@Letgo (Comment 36) : If you can’t get in anywhere..email me and I’ll send you over my mediazone info so you can d/l or watch it from there.
@Milissa (2008 CC Champs!) (Comment 43) :
HAHAHAHA!!!! Naughty !! 😈
@Milissa (2008 CC Champs!) (Comment 44) : That would be so cool of you, I did see a rerun, but even that had 10mins missing.
When I got home after meeting a couple of the Sharksworlders (You guys are all great and I wish I could have stayed and chatted longer, next time I’ll come with my own car 🙂 )I watched the game again, as is tradition to do for me and my mom, when it got to 10min it skipped to just before Ruan’s try. That sucked. I loved seeing Habanna hunted down from behind, I will treasure that moment always and the best way to do that is to actually watch it over and over again until it irritates everyone else around you. 😀
@Letgo (Comment 46) : You guys should have regular get together’s next season.
@robdylan (CC Champ ‘08) (Comment 47) : I would love to but it would make things much easier if I could get to SA quicker, I lose so much time flying over.
@robdylan (CC Champ ‘08) (Comment 47) : It is my intention…and those like Mad (lost her phone) who could not join us….must also come!
@Letgo (Comment 46) : T me that and when Stefan side stepped him, were perhaps the best moments of the game, after the two trys, of course 😀
@Me2 (Comment 50) :
Can I join when I am home next season? 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 51) : 😎 if i can have the spare tickets 😀 😉 😆
@Me2 (Comment 52) :
Hehehehehe
@robdylan (CC Champ ‘08) (Comment 47) : Why did I put an apostrophe in there?
so who is a twit then? ME! Drive 100km’s to the airport only to discover that i left my pc at home. 🙁 so much for being online in thailand
@KSA Shark © (Comment 55) : Oh No! 😯
@Milissa (2008 CC Champs!) (Comment 56) :
You guys think I am grumpy? Wait until you see me after having been away from my PC for 5 days. 😳
using the lounge PC in Dubai at the moment.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 55) :
Ah man that must really suck… now you’re going to have to force yourself to days in the sun and surf, sampling the myriad of hawkers food and brews in the hustle and bustle of the markets… bummer 😉
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 58) :
hehehehe
I am going to do very little shopping, this is a “business trip” I am going to Bangkok to referee in the Bangkok 7s tournament.
My evenings will be spent trying to recover enough to continue the next day.
I am more pissed that i packed my heart rate monitor with my PC coz i wasn’t prepared to risk it with checked baggage. 👿
i need to go see if there is a spare bed around to have a short snooze before my next flight.
Hopefully the hotel I am staying in has a business center.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 59) :
Ah yeah… different story on your lonesome…
How many games are you reffing… and who?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 57) : I wouldn’t be able to do it.
Brian wants me to go with him next year on his annual flyfishing trip to the middle of bumblef*ck West Virginal where there is no internet access or mobile signal. I’d love to go but being cut off from the world, especially since it is right toward the end of S14 worries me.
@Milissa (2008 CC Champs!) (Comment 62) :
Tell him to go fly-fishing for Tiger-fish on the Zambezi river just across the KZN border (amongst the crocs and hippo’s of course incorporating next CC’s win)… 1> another once in a life-time experience 2>bar the flights it’s far cheaper than an interstate trip… 😉
@robdylan (CC Champ ‘08) (Comment 47) : I would luv to do that Rob, but right now it looks like I’m not going to be in Durbs next year. The only thing keeping me back is the rugby, but if my plans works out I’ll be missing quite a few matches in 2009.
I’ll definitely luv to get together with everyone every game that I am at the stadium though.
Notice that this time
Butch wasn’t there
to hoof the ball
directly into habana’s hands
which always helps ‘ey.
KSA,
maybe your luck will change
and he’ll leave you there.
Nothing worse than desert
and no trout.
@Duiwel (Comment 65) : Where on Earth have you been, dude?
Busy,boet,busy.
But things look calmer in winter.
Less hours,
more time to breathe,
whats news your side?
@Duiwel (Comment 68) : ah, it goes… you know 🙂